No team in the NFL struggled more to put up points in the second quarter than the Green Bay Packers did in 2017. Coming in dead last, the Packers averaged a whopping 3.8 points over the second 15 minutes of play. For years head coach Mike McCarthy has preached about “starting fast” as a football team. I guess this standard only applied in terms of wins and not on a quarter by quarter basis.

It’s easy to chalk this up as a by-product of Aaron Rodgers’ injury, however, box scores actually show the offense was held to zero points in the second quarter in each of the first three games last season. Rodgers was the starter for all of these games as his collarbone injury did not occur until week 6. In eight games total, Green Bay was held completely scoreless in the second quarter by their opponent. Including a home game against the Browns.

Rodgers would probably be the first one to balk at the idea that the offense struggles going into the half. However, there is something to be said about the Packers second quarter woes. After finishing third in points scored in the second quarter back in 2016, how does the team plummet to the rear the very next season?

Obviously, backup quarterback Brett Hundley struggled to move the ball on a consistent basis, but having momentum going into the half is extremely important. If not vital for a quarterback that was placed in the situation Hundley found himself in.

With Rodgers now healthy Green Bay needs to be looking to score more before intermission. Even if it means playing conservative at times and settling for three.

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Brandon Carwile was a Cheesehead at birth. His dad grew up attending games at Lambeau and passed on the legacy. He has covered the Packers for over five years and currently works with packerstalk.com. Find him on twitter at @PackerScribe.

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